Walking long distances is an art form. There are various things one can do to complete the walk, and make it fulfilling as possible.
1--Don’t stare at your final destination. Nothing can be more depressing then to see your objective in the distance. Each step doesn’t make it appear any closer—it simply seems to remain in the intangible distant. Your footsteps then seem to be a futile gesture in conquering your ultimate goal.
You should allow your eyes to wander. In this way, you’ll find a good place to take a rest, as well as absorb those things around you, as opposed to the goal in the distance. After all, what’s around us now affects us more then a lofty goal in the distance. Looking at your immediate surroundings allows you to appreciate what you currently have.
2—Take breaks. Walking isn't very tiring, and it can be easy to forget to stop and rest. Resting is important because it allows us time to enjoy those things that are immediately at hand. Walking can be a dull, plodding chore. Including breaks into a walk allows for time to dwell on the simple, insignificant things that might be found on the way. Often, these things prove to be the better part of the journey.
3—Keep up a dialogue with yourself, or with someone who is significant to you. We all walk alone on these kinds of journeys, but if we constantly allow our minds to wander where they will, it proves to be fuel for the soul. Some people may choose some kind of deity to focus upon; others may have arguments with lost friends or deceased parents. This will serve to keep your spirits up.
4—Look behind you. This may sound kind of foolish at first, but it isn't. Things don’t look the same backwards. If, by chance, you have to return by the same route, then you will have a basis for remembering what you will see on the way back. But most important, however, is that looking back allows one to sum up their progress by admiring the distance already traveled.
Comments